Ships from China near islands amid Japanese drills

BRINKSMANSHIP:：The four coast guard vessels approached the disputed Diaoyutais as Japan held a drill with 34,000 personnel, six vessels and 360 aircraft

AFP, TOKYO

Sun, Nov 17, 2013 - Page 6

Four Chinese coast guard ships sailed through disputed waters off Tokyo-controlled islands in the East China Sea yesterday, officials said, as Japan continued a massive drill aimed at bolstering defence of its remote islands.

The vessels entered 12-nautical-mile (22.2km) territorial waters at about 9:25am off one of the the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台), called the Senkakus in Japan and which Taiwan and China also claim, the Japan Coast Guard said.

They left the 12-nautical-mile zone about two hours later, the coast guard said.

Nine days ago, four Chinese coast guard ships were also spotted sailing through the waters, according to the Japanese coast guard.

China’s state-owned ships and aircraft have approached the Senkakus on and off to demonstrate its territorial claims, especially after Japan nationalized some of the islands in September last year.

They have been spotted inside the territorial zone on 50 days so far this year, the coast guard said.

Those Chinese vessels have been chased by Japanese coast guard ships with the two sides trading warnings and claims of sovereignty. Usually they stay for a few hours and then move out into waters surrounding the territorial zone.

Japan’s defense forces launched an 18-day drill on Nov. 1 with 34,000 military personnel, six vessels and 360 aircraft, making China nervous.

They stationed missiles, albeit not operable, on islands marking the gateway to the Pacific in the exercise.

The exercise comes amid growing nervousness in Japan and other parts of Asia over China’s surging military might, which has seen it expand its naval reach into the Pacific Ocean.